[225] Directed on the back,--To the Magnificent and Honourable Lords
Messieurs the Syndics and Council of Geneva.
Two years had scarcely passed away since the banishment of Calvin,
and already the victorious party, left to itself, had exhausted
itself with its own excess and disorders. Of the four Syndics who
pronounced the expulsion of the ministers, two were exiled to Berne;
the other two had perished by a violent death.--Spon, _Hist. de
Genève_, liv. i. pp. 280-282. Anarchy produced its ordinary fruit,
regret for the absence of authority. Taught by severe experience,
the people of Geneva demanded to have Calvin brought back again, and
the new Syndics,--organs of the popular sentiment, sought to recall
him.--Arch. of Geneva, _Registres du Conseil_, ann. 1540, _passim_.
Excuses himself from returning to Geneva by the necessity of his
attendance at the Diet of Worms.
STRASBOURG, _Oct. 23, 1540_.
MY VERY WORTHY, NOBLE, AND HONOURABLE LORDS,--Albeit that, besides
the letters which you have been pleased to send me, you had given
charge to the bearer to declare more fully by word of mouth your
wish, and that he has not found me in the place where he thought to
find me, so as to deliver his message,[226] I have, nevertheless,
sufficiently understood by them the scope of your intention. I
reply, I can testify before God that I hold your Church in such
consideration that I would never be wanting in her time of need to
do whatsoever I could for her help. Furthermore, I have no doubt
whatever but that she must be very desolate, and also in danger of
being broken up and scattered besides, if that has not happened
already. And on this account I am in singular perplexity, having the
desire to meet your wish, and to wrestle with all the grace that
God has given me, to get her brought back into a better condition,
while, on the other hand, I cannot slightingly quit the charge or
lay it down lightly, to which the Lord has called me, without being
relieved of it by regular and lawful means; for so I have always
believed and taught, and to the present moment cannot persuade
myself to the contrary, that when our Lord appoints a man as pastor
in a church to teach in his word, he ought to consider himself as
engaged to take upon himself the government of it, so that he may
not lightly withdraw from it without the settled assurance in his
own heart, and the testimony of the faithful, that the Lord has
discharged him. Moreover, it has been arranged by those of the
council of the town of Strasbourg, that I should go with some of my
brethren to the Assembly at Worms, not to serve one church solely,
but for the common interest, in which number yours is included.
I do not think myself to possess such knowledge, or prudence, or
experience, that I can be of much use there, but when the object
in view is a matter of so great importance, and that it has been
appointed not only by the council of that town, but also by others,
that I should proceed thither, to be present for whatsoever it shall
please God to employ me in, I am constrained to follow, and cannot,
with a sound conscience, neglect that call.
[226] The bearer of this letter was Amy Perrin, who sought anxiously
to bring about the recall of the Reformer, whose most determined
adversary he became some years afterwards at Geneva.--Spon, tom. i.
p. 283. Note P.
Seeing myself, therefore, involved in such trouble and uncertainty,
I have communicated your letter to the chief pastors of this church,
who have ever been singularly desirous of your wellbeing and
edification, and would earnestly, with all their heart, assist you
to the utmost of their power in this matter, as also in every other.
We have consulted together, since I must undertake this journey, if
it please you, in the meantime, to call our brother, Master Peter
Viret, that your church may not be left destitute; for he will
not be an entire stranger among you, and will have that sort of
affection toward you as of one who has been occupied in promoting
your edification, from the very commencement. In the interval, our
Lord will open up a way on the one hand and on the other, as we
do hope, such as your present need requires, and as you may find
expedient. I promise you that nothing shall be denied you on my part
in all that is allowable, but that I will do my utmost to serve you
so far as God permits, and those to whose counsels he has commanded
me to hearken.
And now, right honourable, noble, and eminent Lords, after my humble
commendation to your favourable entreaties, I pray the Lord God to
have you always in his holy protection, increasing in you from day
to day his gifts and graces, making them helpful for the advancement
of the glory of his name, that you may ever prosper and be in peace.
Your humble servant,
JOHN CALVIN.
[_Lat. orig. autogr._--_Archives of Geneva._ No. 1250.]